County officials take oaths

January 02, 2004|By VICKI ROCK, Daily American Staff Writer

Somerset County District Attorney Jerry Spangler, president of the Somerset County Bar Association, welcomed people on Friday to the 105th annual swearing-in ceremony in the 208-year history of Somerset County.

Service at the county and local levels is by no means glamorous, but is the foundation of everything we do in society, Spangler said.

President Judge Eugene E. Fike II welcomed families and friends and said the ceremony was the reaffirmation of the democratic process.

He and Judge John M. Cascio administered oaths of office to the newly elected county officials and their deputies and numerous borough council members, township supervisors, auditors and constables.

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County officials were introduced to the court, with presenters making brief remarks about the person taking the oath.

Public defender William Carroll, who presented Sheriff Carl W. Brown, said Brown is only the second person to be elected to a third term as high sheriff. The first was Norman Walker, who served five terms.

County solicitor Daniel W. Rullo, who presented Commissioners Jimmy Marker, Brad Cober and Pamela Tokar-Ickes, said he can confirm that the three do not take lightly their oath. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, placed the national spotlight on Somerset County and have consumed an enormous amount of the commissioners' time. But they have demonstrated compassion to the families and a dedication to preserving the Flight 93 site.

Cober was taking the oath for the sixth time, Rullo said, and Marker and Tokar-Ickes for the second time.

Spangler also took the oath of office as district attorney for the third time. Assistant District Attorney Carolann A. Young presented him.